Voltage generating method and apparatus

ABSTRACT

Provided are a voltage generating method and apparatus. A wireless power device includes a boosting circuit configured to generate a high voltage, and a switch arrangement circuit configured to selectively transmit energy to the boosting circuit, for the generating of the high voltage, using an inductor included in a resonator and in response to a build-up request for the high voltage.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/440,384 filed on Feb. 23, 2017, which claims the benefit under 35 USC§ 119(a) of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2016-0079149 filed on Jun.24, 2016, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entiredisclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference for allpurposes.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

The following description relates to a voltage generating method andapparatus.

2. Description of Related Art

A receiver configured to receive wireless power may receive and rectifyan alternating current (AC) voltage with a relatively low peak voltage.In general, the rectified voltage is charged in a capacitor and used asreceived, or used after undergoing a boosting process, such as when thelow peak voltage is insufficient to charge a battery of an underlyingdevice.

The boosting process may include boosting the received voltage through aboost type converter. The boost type converter may include an additionalinductor and two switches, and may be configured to increase aninput-to-output voltage. For example, the boost type converter mayadjust energy to be built-up in the inductor by adjusting duty cycles ofthe switches, thereby regulating an output voltage.

The received voltage may be boosted through a switched capacitorconverter that increases the voltage using switching of a series and/orparallel structure of capacitors, rather than using such an inductor.

The boost type converter may require an additional external device, suchas the inductor. Since a boosting ratio is determined for each operationin general, the switched capacitor converter may also need to perform anumber of operations to obtain an increasingly greater input-to-outputvoltage, and thus may require more and more capacitors to obtain thishigher output voltage.

When the abovementioned approaches are included in a chip of a receiver,the corresponding devices that implement the approaches may occupy alarge area of the corresponding chip or printed circuit. In addition,when such approaches require additional devices disposed external to thechip to obtain greater and greater input-to-output voltage, the numberof such external devices also increases.

SUMMARY

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the DetailedDescription. This Summary is not intended to identify key features oressential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is this Summaryintended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimedsubject matter.

In one general aspect, a wireless power device includes a boostingcircuit configured to generate a high voltage, and a switch arrangementcircuit configured to selectively transmit energy to the boostingcircuit, for the generating of the high voltage, using an inductorincluded in a resonator and in response to a build-up request for thehigh voltage.

The switch arrangement circuit may be configured to iteratively transmitthe energy for the generating of the high voltage to the boostingcircuit until a voltage stored in the boosting circuit reaches the highvoltage.

The boosting circuit may include a diode configured to transmit energytransmitted from the switch arrangement circuit, and a capacitorconfigured to store the transmitted energy by the diode.

The wireless power device may further include a first capacitorconfigured to store a resonant voltage generated by a resonance of theresonator, where the energy selectively transmitted to the boostingcircuit may include at least one of energy corresponding to the resonantvoltage stored in the first capacitor or energy charged in a battery.

The switch arrangement circuit may be configured to transmit the energycharged in the battery to the boosting circuit using the inductor and totransmit, to the boosting circuit, energy stored by at least one of thefirst capacitor or a second capacitor configured to store the energycharged in the battery.

The wireless power device may further include the resonator configuredto resonate to generate a resonant voltage in response to receipt ofwireless power by the inductor, and configured to build energy, in theinductor, provided by the switch arrangement circuit during the use ofthe inductor for the selective transmitting of energy to the boostingcircuit.

In a general aspect, a wireless power device includes a resonatorconfigured to resonate to generate a resonant voltage through a wirelesspower receiving inductor of the resonator, and a power converterconfigured to generate a high voltage from a low voltage by buildingenergy in the inductor in response to a build-up request for outputtingthe high voltage.

The power converter may further include a boosting circuit configured togenerate the high voltage, and a switch arrangement circuit configuredto selectively transmit energy to the boosting circuit, for thegenerating of the high voltage, using the inductor built energy.

The switch arrangement circuit may be configured to iteratively transmitthe energy to the boosting circuit until a voltage stored in theboosting circuit reaches the high voltage.

The boosting circuit may include a diode configured to transmit energytransmitted from the switch arrangement circuit, and a capacitorconfigured to store the transmitted energy by the diode.

The power converter may further include a first capacitor configured tostore the resonant voltage, where the energy selectively transmitted tothe boosting circuit may include at least one of energy corresponding tothe resonant voltage stored in the first capacitor or energy charged ina battery.

The switch arrangement circuit may be configured to transmit the energycharged in the battery to the boosting circuit using the inductor and totransmit, to the boosting circuit, energy stored by at least one of thefirst capacitor or a second capacitor configured to store the energycharged in the battery.

The wireless power device may further include a controller configured togenerate the build-up request in response to a determination that thewireless power device requires a high voltage.

In one general aspect, a voltage generating method of a wireless powerreceiver may include entering a high-voltage build-up operation mode inresponse to a build-up request for outputting a high voltage for powersupply to the wireless power receiver, and generating the high voltagefrom a low voltage by storing energy, from the wireless power receiver,in a wireless power receiving inductor included in a resonator of thewireless power receiver during the high-voltage build-up operation mode.

The generating of the high voltage may include iteratively transmittingthe stored energy to an energy storage, until a voltage stored in theenergy storage reaches the high voltage, to generate the high voltage.

The storing of the energy in the wireless power receiving inductor mayinclude providing, to the wireless power receiving inductor, at leastone of energy corresponding to a resonant voltage generated by theresonator or energy charged in a battery.

The generating of the high voltage may include transmitting the storedenergy, including the energy charged in the battery, in the wirelesspower receiving inductor to an energy storage, and transmitting, to theenergy storage, energy stored in at least one of a first capacitorconfigured to store the resonant voltage or a second capacitorconfigured to store the energy charged in the battery.

The method may further include generating the build-up request inresponse to a determination that the high voltage is required by thewireless power receiver.

The generating of the high voltage may be performed during wirelesspower transmission of energy to the wireless power receiving inductorfrom a wireless power transmitter, and the stored energy from thewireless power receiver may be previously stored energy provided by thewireless power receiving inductor during the wireless powertransmission.

The previously stored energy may be energy available to the wirelesspower receiver, as a power supply to the wireless power receiver, for alow voltage operation.

Other features and aspects will be apparent from the following detaileddescription, the drawings, and the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a wireless power systemin accordance with one or more embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a power receiver.

FIG. 3A illustrates an example of a switch device.

FIG. 3B is a timing diagram illustrating an example of an operation of aswitch device.

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram illustrating an example of a powerconverter.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are circuit diagrams illustrating examples of operationsof a switch arrangement circuit.

FIG. 6 is a graph illustrating an example of a relationship amongenergies generated and transmitted based on operations of a switcharrangement circuit.

FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram illustrating an example of a powerconverter.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are circuit diagrams illustrating examples of operationsof a switch arrangement circuit.

FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram illustrating an example of a powerconverter.

FIGS. 10A and 10B are circuit diagrams illustrating examples ofoperations of a switch arrangement circuit.

FIG. 11 is a circuit diagram illustrating an example of a powerconverter.

FIGS. 12A, 12B, 12C, and 12D are circuit diagrams illustrating examplesof operations of a switch arrangement circuit.

FIG. 13 is a circuit diagram illustrating an example of the powerconverter.

FIGS. 14A, 14B, 14C, and 14D are circuit diagrams illustrating examplesof operations of a switch arrangement circuit.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation of apower converter.

FIG. 16 is a graph illustrating an example of a relationship amongenergies generated and transmitted based on operations of a powerconverter.

Throughout the drawings and the detailed description, unless otherwisedescribed or provided, the same drawing reference numerals will beunderstood to refer to the same or like elements, features, andstructures. The drawings may not be to scale, and the relative size,proportions, and depiction of elements in the drawings may beexaggerated for clarity, illustration, and convenience.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description is provided to assist the reader ingaining a comprehensive understanding of the methods, apparatuses,and/or systems described herein. However, various changes,modifications, and equivalents of the methods, apparatuses, and/orsystems described herein will be apparent after an understanding of thedisclosure of this application. For example, the sequences of operationsdescribed herein are merely examples, and are not limited to those setforth herein, but may be changed as will be apparent after anunderstanding of the disclosure of this application, with the exceptionof operations necessarily occurring in a certain order. Also,descriptions of features that are known in the art may be omitted forincreased clarity and conciseness.

The features described herein may be embodied in different forms, andare not to be construed as being limited to the examples describedherein. Rather, the examples described herein have been provided merelyto illustrate some of the many possible ways of implementing themethods, apparatuses, and/or systems described herein that will beapparent after an understanding of the disclosure of this application.

Terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), (b), and the like may be usedherein to describe components. Each of these terminologies is not usedto define an essence, order, or sequence of a corresponding componentbut used merely to distinguish the corresponding component from othercomponent(s). For example, a first component may be referred to as asecond component, and similarly the second component may also bereferred to as the first component.

It should be noted that if it is described in the specification that afirst component is “connected,” “coupled,” or “joined” to a secondcomponent, a third component may be “connected,” “coupled,” and “joined”between the first and second components, although the first componentmay also be directly connected, coupled or joined to the secondcomponent. For example, it should be noted that if it is described inthe specification that one component is “directly connected” or“directly joined” to another component, a third component would not bepresent therebetween. Similar to such direct connection or joinedexpressions, other expressions, for example, “between” and “immediatelybetween” and “adjacent to” and “immediately adjacent to” may also beconstrued as described in the foregoing.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing variousexamples only, and is not to be used to limit the disclosure. As usedherein, the terms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include theplural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Asused herein, the terms “include,” “comprise,” and “have” specify thepresence of stated features, numbers, operations, elements, components,and/or combinations thereof, but do not preclude the presence oraddition of one or more other features, numbers, operations, elements,components, and/or combinations thereof.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms, including technical and scientificterms, used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by oneof ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains that isconsistent, and not in conflict, with an understanding of the presentdisclosure and the use of such terms in the present disclosure. Terms,such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, are to beinterpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning inthe context of the relevant art and consistent with an understanding ofthe present disclosure, and are not to be interpreted in an idealized oroverly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a wireless power systemin accordance with one or more embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 1, a wireless power system 10 may include a wirelesspower transmission device 100 and a wireless power reception device 200,for example.

The wireless power transmission device 100 may supply wireless power tothe wireless power reception device 200. In this example arrangement,the wireless power transmission device 100 refers to a device thatsupplies wireless power, and the wireless power reception device 200refers to a device that receives the wireless power.

The wireless power transmission device 100 and the wireless powerreception device 200 may also communicate with each other. For example,the wireless power transmission device 100 and the wireless powerreception device 200 may exchange signals or data with each other.

Depending on embodiment, each of the wireless power transmission device100 and the wireless power reception device 200 is any of a personalcomputer (PC), a data server, a pad, a medical device, an electricvehicle, or a portable electronic device, as only examples.

As also only examples, the portable electronic device may be implementedas a laptop computer, a mobile phone, a smart phone, a tablet PC, amobile Internet device (MID), a personal digital assistant (PDA), anenterprise digital assistant (EDA), a digital still camera, a digitalvideo camera, a portable multimedia player (PMP), a personal navigationdevice or portable navigation device (PND), a handheld game console, anelectronic book (e-book), or a smart device. For example, the smartdevice may be implemented as a smart watch or a smart band, or someother wearable device.

The wireless power transmission device 100 includes a controller 110, apower transmitter 130, and a communicator 150, for example.

The controller 110 may control an overall operation of the wirelesspower transmission device 100. In an example, the controller 110 may beimplemented as a processor including at least one core, for example, acentral processing unit (CPU), though embodiments are not limitedthereto.

The power transmitter 130 may transmit wireless power to the wirelesspower reception device 200.

The communicator 150 may exchange signals or data with the wirelesspower reception device 200, such as through the communicator 250 of thewireless power reception device 200. The communicator 150 may beimplemented as hardware as a near field communication (NFC) module, awireless-fidelity (Wi-Fi) module, a Bluetooth module, a Bluetooth lowenergy (BLE) module, a radio frequency identification (RFID) module, aninfrared data association (IrDA) module, a ultra wideband (UWB) module,or a Zigbee module, as only non-limiting examples.

The wireless power reception device 200 includes a controller 210, apower receiver 230, and a communicator 250, for example.

The controller 210 may control an overall operation of the wirelesspower reception device 200. In an example, the controller 210 may beimplemented as a processor including at least one core, for example, aCPU, though embodiments are not limited thereto.

The power receiver 230 receives wireless power from the wireless powertransmission device 100. In this example, the power receiver 230 outputsa normal voltage and/or a low voltage using the received wireless power.Further, the power receiver 230 generates a high voltage by storingenergy via an internal inductor of a resonator included in the powerreceiver 230 in response to a build-up request for the high voltage,e.g., a same internal inductor of the resonator that is used to receivethe wireless power transfer from the wireless power transmission device100.

The communicator 250 exchanges signals or data with the wireless powertransmission device 100. The communicator 250 may be implemented as anNFC module, a Wi-Fi module, a Bluetooth module, a BLE module, an RFIDmodule, an IrDA module, a UWB module, or a Zigbee module.

In response to a determination, e.g., by the wireless power receptiondevice 200, that the wireless power reception device 200 requires a highvoltage, the wireless power reception device 200 generates the highvoltage using the internal inductor of the resonator which is alreadyprovided for receiving wireless power from the wireless powertransmission device 100, and thus does not need an additional boostproviding external device, such as an external inductor and/or capacitoras typically required. Accordingly, a wireless power reception deviceaccording to one or more embodiments may reduce a number of externaldevices, and also reduce an area occupied by such external devices.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a power receiver ofFIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 2, the power receiver 230 includes a resonator 231,and a power converter 233. The power receiver 230 further includes aswitching controller 235.

The resonator 231 includes an inductor L_(RX) and a capacitor C_(RX).The resonator 231 generates a resonant voltage by receiving wirelesspower transmitted from the wireless power transmission device 100. Theresonant voltage is generated in the capacitor C_(RX). In this example,the resonant voltage is a resonant alternating current (AC) voltage, andis maintained at a predetermined (and/or alternatively desired) peakvoltage.

The power converter 233 selectively operates in a normal operation modeand a high-voltage build-up operation mode under control of theswitching controller 235. During the normal operation mode, the powerconverter 233 generates a first voltage LV using the voltage generatedin the capacitor C_(RX), and outputs the first voltage LV. During thehigh-voltage build-up operation mode, the power converter 233 generatesa second voltage HV using the inductor L_(RX), and outputs the secondvoltage HV.

The first voltage LV includes a normal voltage and/or a low voltage, andthe second voltage HV includes a high voltage. In detail, the normaloperation mode is a mode that provides a normal and/or low voltagerequired by the wireless power reception device 200, and thehigh-voltage build-up operation mode is a mode that provides a highvoltage required by the wireless power reception device 200. Herein, thehigh voltage is a greater voltage than the normal and low voltage.

The power converter 233 includes a capacitor C_(out), a switcharrangement circuit 233-1, and a boosting circuit 233-3, for example.

The capacitor C_(out) stores energy corresponding to the wireless powertransmitted from the wireless power transmission device 100 in a form ofvoltage. The capacitor C_(out) stores the resonant voltage generated inthe capacitor C_(RX) by a resonance of the resonator 231. The resonantvoltage is rectified through the switch arrangement circuit 233-1.

The switch arrangement circuit 233-1 operates in the normal operationmode under control of the switching controller 235.

The switch arrangement circuit 233-1 rectifies the resonant voltagegenerated in the capacitor C_(RX) and transmits the rectified voltage tothe capacitor C_(out). The voltage v_(out) stored in the capacitorC_(out) is output as the first voltage LV. The switch arrangementcircuit 233-1 performs a rectification operation.

Further, the switch arrangement circuit 233-1 operates in thehigh-voltage build-up operation mode under control of the switchingcontroller 235. For example, the switch arrangement circuit 233-1transmits energy to a capacitor C_(high) of the boosting circuit 233-3via the inductor L_(RX). The switch arrangement circuit 233-1 performsan energy build-up operation to transmit energy to (or build up energyin) the inductor L_(RX), or an energy release operation to transmit theenergy transmitted to the inductor L_(RX) to the capacitor C_(high) ofthe boosting circuit 233-3. The switch arrangement circuit 233-1 alsoperforms an energy transfer operation to store energy in a storagedevice before transmitting the energy to the inductor 1-RX.

Until the energy stored in the capacitor C_(high), that is, a voltagev_(high) is determined to correspond to a preset value, for example, apredetermined high voltage, the switch arrangement circuit 231 may becontrolled to iteratively transmit the energy to the capacitor C_(high)via the inductor L_(RX). The voltage v_(high) stored in the capacitorC_(high) is output as the second voltage HV.

The boosting circuit 233-3 includes a diode D_(high) and the capacitorC_(high). The capacitor Cho stores the energy transmitted via theinductor L_(RX) through the diode D_(high).

The switching controller 235 controls the power converter 233, forexample, an operation of the switch arrangement circuit 233-1. AlthoughFIG. 2 illustrates the switching controller 235 being implementedexternal to a controller 210, such as the controller 210 of FIG. 1,examples are not limited respectively thereto. In another example, theswitching controller 235 may be implemented internal to the controller210.

In an example, except for when the wireless power reception device 200requires a high voltage, the switching controller 235 controls theswitch arrangement circuit 233-1 to operate in the normal operationmode. Alternatively, in response to the wireless power reception device200 determining that a normal voltage and/or a low voltage is requiredby the wireless reception device 200, the controller 210 transmits anormal operation mode signal for the normal operation mode to theswitching controller 235. In response to the normal operation modesignal, the switching controller 235 controls the switching controller235 to operate in the normal operation mode.

In response to a determination that the wireless power reception device200 requires a high voltage, the switching controller 235 controls theswitch arrangement circuit 233-1 to operate in the high-voltage build-upoperation mode under control of the controller 210. In this example, thecontroller 210 generates a high-voltage build-up operation mode signalfor a build-up request for a high voltage, and transmits thehigh-voltage build-up operation mode signal to the switching controller235.

The rectification operation, the energy build-up operation, the energyrelease operation, and/or the energy transfer operation of the switcharrangement circuit 233-1 may be performed by controlling an operationof at least one switch device SW included in the switch arrangementcircuit 233-1 through the switching controller 235. Hereinafter, theoperation of such a switch device SW, e.g., controlled by the switchingcontroller 235, will be described in greater detail.

FIG. 3A illustrates an example of a switch device, and FIG. 3B is atiming diagram illustrating an example of an operation of the switchdevice. Here, the switch device of FIG. 3A may be the switch device ofFIG. 2, though embodiments are not limited thereto.

Referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B, the switch device SW includes a pluralityof logic circuits, a transistor, and a comparator, for example. However,the switch device SW is not limited thereto, and may be implementedusing various circuits and/or methods.

The example switch device SW operates in response to control signalsCTRL1 and CTRL2 generated by the switching controller 235, for example.As an example, a first level of the control signals CTRL1 and CTRL2corresponds to a high level or logic 1, and a second level thereofcorresponds to a low level or logic 0.

The switch device SW may act as an active diode in response to thecontrol signals CTRL1 and CTRL2. For example, in response to the firstcontrol signal CTRL1 corresponding to the second level and the secondcontrol signal CTRL2 corresponding to the first level, the switch deviceSW acts as a diode.

The switch device SW may selectively be turned on and off in response tothe control signals CTRL1 and CTRL2. For example, in response to thefirst control signal CTRL1 corresponding to the first level, the switchdevice SW is turned on, and in response to the first control signalCTRL1 corresponding to the second level and the second control signalCTRL2 corresponding to the second level, the switch device SW is turnedoff.

Through use of at least one switch device SW being selectivelycontrolled to act as a diode, to be turned on, and/or to be turned off,the switch arrangement circuit 233-1 may selectively perform any of therectification operation, the energy build-up operation, the energyrelease operation, and/or the energy transfer operation.

Hereinafter, various examples of generating a high voltage using aboosting circuit will be described with reference to FIGS. 4-14D. Forexplanation purposes only, and noting that embodiments are not limitedthereto, such examples will be explained with reference to the capacitorC_(high) of the boosting circuit 233-3 of FIG. 2 using the inductorL_(RX) of the resonator 231 of FIG. 2.

For example, though not limited thereto, the power converter 233 of FIG.2 may output the high voltage v_(high) generated in the capacitorC_(high) as the second voltage HV in response to the switch arrangementcircuit 233-1 transmitting the energy stored in the capacitor C_(out)through the rectification operation to the capacitor C_(high) of theboosting circuit 233-3 via the inductor L_(RX), such as will bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 4 through 8B.

For example, FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram illustrating an example of sucha power converter, FIGS. 5A and 5B are circuit diagrams illustratingexamples of operations of a switch arrangement circuit of FIG. 4, andFIG. 6 is a graph illustrating an example of a relationship amongenergies generated and transmitted based on operations of the switcharrangement circuit of FIG. 4.

Referring to FIGS. 4 through 6, a switch arrangement circuit 233-1, suchas the switch arrangement circuit 233-1 of FIG. 2, includes a pluralityof switch devices SW₁, SW₂, SW₃, and SW₄. Structures and operations ofthe first switch device SW₁, the second switch device SW₂, and thefourth switch device SW₄ may each be substantially the same as thestructure and the operation of the switch device SW of FIGS. 3A and 3B,noting that embodiments are not limited thereto. In FIG. 4, the thirdswitch device SW₃ may be implemented as or by a diode. The third switchdevice SW₃ may also be substantially the same as the structure andoperation of the switch device SW of FIGS. 3A and 3B.

For ease of description of FIG. 4, an example exists where a powerconverter 233, such as the power converter 233 of FIG. 2, operates in anormal operation mode, and a resonant voltage generated in the capacitorC_(RX) using wireless power is rectified and stored in the capacitorC_(out) in a form of direct current (DC) voltage. In this example, withthe third switch device SW₃ being implemented as a diode, the firstswitch device SW₁, the second switch device SW₂, and the fourth switchdevice SW₄ may be controlled to also act as diodes.

A switching controller 235, such as the switching controller 235 of FIG.2, may then or alternatively control the power converter 233 to operatein a high-voltage build-up operation mode, e.g., in response to ahigh-voltage build-up operation mode signal.

For an energy build-up operation, the switching controller 235 turns onthe first switch device SW, and the fourth switch device SW₄, and turnsoff the second switch device SW₂. Thus, as shown in FIG. 5A, the energystored in the capacitor C_(out) in the form of voltage is transmitted to(or built up in) the inductor L_(RX) in a form of current. In responseto a determined capacitance of the capacitor C_(out) being greater thana capacitance of the capacitor C_(RX), the energy transmitted to theinductor L_(RX) is transmitted in a form of resonance of the capacitorC_(out) and the inductor L_(RX).

For an energy release operation, the switching controller 235 turns offthe first switch device SW₁, and controls the fourth switch device SW₄to act as a diode. Further, the switching controller 235 maintains thesecond switch device SW₂ to be turned off. In this example, in responseto a determined preset amount of the energy stored in the capacitorC_(out) being transmitted to the inductor L_(RX), the switchingcontroller 235 initiates the energy release operation. Thus, as shown inFIG. 5B, the energy of the inductor L_(RX) is transmitted to thecapacitor C_(high) through the third switch device SW₃ and the diodeD_(high).

In response to the entire amount of the energy of the inductor L_(RX)being transmitted to the capacitor C_(high), and with the third switchdevice SW₃ being implemented as a diode, the switching controller 233controls the first switch device SW₁, the second switch device SW₂, andthe fourth switch device SW₄ to act as diodes for a rectificationoperation. The switching controller 233 controls the first switch deviceSW, and the second switch device SW₂ to act as diodes. Further, theswitching controller 233 maintains the fourth switch device SW₄ to actas a diode. Thus, the resonant voltage generated in the capacitor C_(RX)by the resonance of the resonator 231 is rectified through the pluralityof switch devices SW, through SW₄, and stored in the capacitor C_(out)in a form of DC voltage. The energy stored in the capacitor C_(out) isthen again transmitted to the capacitor C_(high) through the energybuild-up operation and the energy release operation.

Until a voltage v_(high) corresponding to the energy stored in thecapacitor C_(high) is determined to correspond to or reach apredetermined high voltage, the rectification operation, the energybuild-up operation, and the energy release operation may be controlledto be iteratively performed.

In this example, a relationship among energies generated and transmittedin response to the rectification operation, the energy build-upoperation, and the energy release operation of the switch arrangementcircuit 233-1 is shown in FIG. 6. For example, during the rectificationoperation, the energy stored in the capacitor C_(out), that is, thevoltage v_(out) may be maintained. During the energy build-up operation,the energy stored in the capacitor C_(out) is transmitted to theinductor L_(RX), and the energy of the inductor L_(RX), that is, acurrent i_(L) increases. During the energy release operation, the energyof the inductor L_(RX) is transmitted to the capacitor C_(high) of theboosting circuit 233-3, and the energy stored in the capacitor C_(high),that is, the voltage v_(high) increases.

FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram illustrating an example of a powerconverter, such as the power converter of FIG. 2, and FIGS. 8A and 8Bare circuit diagrams illustrating examples of operations of a switcharrangement circuit of FIG. 7.

Referring to FIGS. 7 through 8B, a switch arrangement circuit 233-1,such as the switch arrangement circuit 233-1 of FIG. 2, includes aplurality of switch devices SW₁, SW₂, SW₃, and SW₄. Structures andoperations of the first switch device SW₁, the second switch device SW₂,and the fourth switch device SW₄ may each be substantially the same asthe structure and the operation of the switch device SW of FIGS. 3A and3B, noting that embodiments are not limited thereto. The third switchdevice SW₃ may be implemented as or by a diode. The third switch deviceSW₃ may also be substantially the same as the structure and operation ofthe switch device SW of FIGS. 3A and 3B.

For ease of description of FIG. 7, an example exists where a powerconverter 233, such as the power converter 233 of FIG. 2 operates in anormal operation mode, and a resonant voltage generated in the capacitorC_(RX) using wireless power is rectified and stored in the capacitorC_(out) in a form of DC voltage. In this example, the first switchdevice SW₁, the second switch device SW₂, and the fourth switch deviceSW₄ may be controlled to also act as diodes.

A switching controller 235, such as the switching controller 235 of FIG.2, may then or alternatively control the power converter 233 to operatein a high-voltage build-up operation mode in response to a high-voltagebuild-up operation mode signal.

For an energy build-up operation, the switching controller 235 turns onthe first switch device SW, and the fourth switch device SW₄, and turnsoff the second switch device SW₂. As shown in FIG. 8A, the energy storedin the capacitor C_(out) in a form of voltage is transmitted to (orbuilt up in) the inductor L_(RX) in a form of current.

For an energy release operation, the switching controller 235 controlsonly the fourth switch device SW₄ to act as a diode. The switchingcontroller 235 maintains the first switch device SW, to be turned on,and maintains the second switch device SW₂ to be turned off. In responseto a determined preset amount of the energy stored in the capacitorC_(out) being transmitted to the inductor L_(RX), the switchingcontroller 235 initiates the energy release operation.

Unlike FIG. 5B, the energy of the inductor L_(RX) and the energy storedin the capacitor C_(out) may be transmitted together to the capacitorC_(high) through the diode D_(high) as shown in FIG. 8B.

In response to the entire amount of the energy of the inductor L_(RX)and/or the entire amount of the energy stored in the capacitor C_(out)being determined to have been transmitted to the capacitor C_(high), theswitching controller 233 controls the first switch device SW₁, thesecond switch device SW₂, and the fourth switch device SW₄ to act asdiodes for a rectification operation. The switching controller 235controls the first switch device SW₁ and the second switch device SW₂ toact as diodes. Further, the switching controller 235 maintains thefourth switch device SW₄ to act as a diode.

The energy stored in the capacitor C_(out) through the rectificationoperation is transmitted to the capacitor C_(high) through the energybuild-up operation and the energy release operation.

Until a voltage v_(high) corresponding to the energy stored in thecapacitor C_(high) is determined to correspond to or reach apredetermined high voltage, the rectification operation, the energybuild-up operation, and the energy release operation may be controlledto be iteratively performed.

The power converter 233 may alternatively or additionally output thehigh voltage v_(high) generated in the capacitor C_(high) as the secondvoltage HV in response to the switch arrangement circuit 233-1transmitting energy stored or charged in a battery disposed in thewireless power reception device 200 to the capacitor C_(high) of aboosting circuit 233-3 via the inductor L_(RX), such as furtherdescribed with reference to FIGS. 9 through 14D.

For example, FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram illustrating an example of apower converter, such as the power converter of FIG. 2, and FIGS. 10Aand 10B are circuit diagrams illustrating examples of operations of aswitch arrangement circuit of FIG. 9.

Referring to FIGS. 9 through 10B, a switch arrangement circuit 233-1,such as the switch arrangement circuit 233-1 of FIG. 2, includes aplurality of switch devices SW₁, SW₂, SW₃, SW₄, and SW₅. Structures andoperations of each of the first switch device SW₁, the second switchdevice SW₂, the fourth switch device SW₄, and the fifth switch deviceSW₅ may be substantially the same as the structure and the operation ofthe switch device SW of FIGS. 3A and 3B, nothing that embodiments arenot limited thereto. The third switch device SW₃ may be implemented asor by a diode. The third switch device SW₃ may also be substantially thesame as the structure and operation of the switch device SW of FIGS. 3Aand 3B.

For ease of description of FIG. 9, an example exists where a powerconverter 233, such as the power converter 233 of FIG. 2, operates in anormal operation mode, and a resonant voltage generated in the capacitorC_(RX) using wireless power is rectified and stored in the capacitorC_(out) in a form of DC voltage. In this example, the first switchdevice SW₁, the second switch device SW₂, and the fourth switch deviceSW₄ may be controlled to act as diodes, and the fifth switch device SW₅may be controlled to be be turned off.

A switching controller 235, such as the switching controller 235 of FIG.2, controls the power converter 233 to operate in a high-voltagebuild-up operation mode in response to a high-voltage build-up operationmode signal.

For an energy build-up operation, the switching controller 235 turns offthe first switch device SW₁ and the second switch device SW₂, and turnson the fourth switch device SW₄ and the fifth switch device SW₅. Thus,as shown in FIG. 10A, the energy stored in the battery 237 istransmitted to (or built up in) the inductor L_(RX) in a form ofcurrent.

For an energy release operation, while the third switch device SW₃ isimplemented as a diode, of the remaining switch devices the switchingcontroller 235 controls only the fourth switch device SW₄ to act as adiode. The switching controller 235 maintains the first switch deviceSW₁ and the second switch device SW₂ to be turned off, and maintains thefifth switch device SW₅ to be turned on. In response to a determinedpreset amount of the energy stored in the battery 237 being transmittedto the inductor L_(RX), the switching controller 235 initiates theenergy release operation. Thus, as shown in FIG. 10B, the energy of theinductor L_(RX) and the energy stored in the battery 237 are transmittedto the capacitor C_(high) through the diode D_(high).

In this example, a boost converter is configured using the battery 237,the inductor L_(RX), the fourth switch device SW₄, the diode D_(high),and the capacitor C_(high) in a high-voltage build-up operation mode.

Until a voltage v_(high) corresponding to the energy stored in thecapacitor C_(high) is determined to correspond to or reach apredetermined high voltage, the energy build-up operation and the energyrelease operation may be controlled to be iteratively performed.

FIG. 11 is a circuit diagram illustrating an example of a powerconverter, such as the power converter of FIG. 2, and FIGS. 12A through12D are circuit diagrams illustrating examples of operations of a switcharrangement circuit of FIG. 11.

Referring to FIGS. 11 through 12D, a switch arrangement circuit 233-1,such as the switch arrangement circuit 233-1 of FIG. 2, includes aplurality of switch devices SW₁, SW₂, SW₃, SW₄, SW₅, and SW₆. Structuresand operations of each of the plurality of switch devices SW₁ throughSW₆ may be substantially the same as the structure and the operation ofthe switch device SW of FIGS. 3A and 3B, noting that embodiments are notlimited thereto.

For ease of description of FIG. 11, an example exists where a powerconverter 233, such as the power converter 233 of FIG. 2, operates in anormal operation mode and a resonant voltage generated in the capacitorC_(RX) using wireless power is rectified and stored in the capacitorC_(out) in a form of DC voltage. In this example, the first switchdevice SW₁, the second switch device SW₂, the third switch device SW₃,and the fourth switch device SW₄ are controlled to act as diodes, andthe fifth switch device SW₅ and the sixth switch device SW₆ controlledto be turned off.

In this example, the wireless power reception device 200 furtherincludes a capacitor C_(st) configured to store energy of the battery237.

For an energy transfer operation, a switching controller 235, such asthe switching controller 235 of FIG. 2, turns off the first switchdevice SW₁, the second switch device SW₂, and the fifth switch deviceSW₅, and turns on the fourth switch device SW₄ and the sixth switchdevice SW₆. Further, the switching controller 235 maintains the thirdswitch device SW₃ to be controlled to act as a diode. Thus, as shown inFIG. 12A, the energy stored in the battery 237 is transmitted and storedin the capacitor C_(st).

For an energy build-up operation, the switching controller 235 turns onthe fifth switch device SW₅, and turns off the sixth switch device SW₆.Further, the switching controller 235 maintains the first switch deviceSW₁ and the second switch device SW₂ to be turned off, maintains thefourth switch device SW₄ to be turned on, and maintains the third switchdevice SW₃ to be controlled to act as a diode. Thus, as shown in FIG.12B, the energy stored in the capacitor C_(st) is transmitted to (orbuilt up in) the inductor L_(RX) in a form of current.

For an energy release operation, the switching controller 235 turns offthe fifth switch device SW₅, and controls the fourth switch device SW₄to act as a diode. Further, the switching controller 235 maintains thefirst switch device SW₁, the second switch device SW₂, and the sixthswitch device SW₆ to be turned off, and maintains the third switchdevice SW₃ to be controlled to act as a diode. In response to adetermined preset amount of the energy stored in the capacitor C_(st)being transmitted to the inductor L_(RX), the switching controller 235initiates the energy release operation. Thus, as shown in FIG. 12C, theenergy of the inductor L_(RX) is transmitted to the capacitor C_(high)through the third switch device SW₃ and the diode D_(high).

During the energy release operation, the switching controller 235 maycontrol all of the switch devices SW₁ through SW₆ to perform an energytransfer operation as well. For example, as shown in FIG. 12D, theswitching controller 235 may additionally turn on the sixth switchdevice SW₆, whereby the energy stored in the battery 237 is transmittedand stored in the capacitor C_(st) in response to the energy of theinductor L_(RX) being transmitted to the capacitor C_(high) through thethird switch device SW₃ and the diode D_(high).

Until a voltage v_(high) corresponding to the energy stored in thecapacitor C_(high) is determined to correspond to (or reach) apredetermined high voltage, the energy transfer operation, the energybuild-up operation, and the energy release operation may be controlledto be iteratively performed.

FIG. 13 is a circuit diagram illustrating an example of a powerconverter, such as the power converter of FIG. 2, and FIGS. 14A through14D are circuit diagrams illustrating examples of operations of a switcharrangement circuit of FIG. 13.

Referring to FIGS. 13 through 14D, a switch arrangement circuit 233-1,such as the switch arrangement circuit 233-1 of FIG. 2, includes aplurality of switch devices SW₁, SW₂, SW₃, SW₄, SW₅, and SW₆. Structuresand operations of each of the plurality of switch devices SW₁ throughSW₆ may be substantially the same as the structure and the operation ofthe switch device SW of FIGS. 3A and 3B, noting that embodiments are notlimited thereto.

For an energy transfer operation, a switching controller 235, such asthe switching controller 235 of FIG. 2, turns off the first switchdevice SW₁, the second switch device SW₂, and the sixth switch deviceSW₆, and turns on the fourth switch device SW₄ and the fifth switchdevice SW₅. Further, the switching controller 235 controls the thirdswitch device SW₃ to act as a diode.

As shown in FIG. 14A, the energy stored in the battery 237 istransmitted and stored in the capacitor C_(out). In this example, aresonant voltage generated in the capacitor C_(RX) using wireless poweris rectified and stored in the capacitor C_(out) in a form of DCvoltage. Although a voltage v_(out) of the capacitor C_(out) increasesto a voltage VBAT of the battery 237, back or subsequent circuitsconnected to the sixth switch device SW₆ are protected by the sixthswitch device SW₆, e.g., back or subsequent circuits of the powerreceiver that use or require the low or normal voltage v_(out) providedto such back or subsequent circuits during the low or normal modeoperations.

For an energy build-up operation, the switching controller 235 turns onthe first switch device SW₁, and turns off the fifth switch device SW₅.Further, the switching controller 235 maintains the second switch deviceSW₂ and the sixth switch device SW₆ to be turned off, maintains thethird switch device SW₃ to be controlled to act as a diode, andmaintains the fourth switch device SW₄ to be turned on. Thus, as shownin FIG. 14B, the energy stored in the capacitor C_(out) is transmittedto (or built up in) the inductor L_(RX) in a form of current.

For an energy release operation, the switching controller 235 turns offthe first switch device SW₁, and controls the fourth switch device SW₄to act as a diode. Further, the switching controller 235 maintains thesecond switch device SW₂, the fifth switch device SW₅, and the sixthswitch device SW₆ to be turned off, and maintains the third switchdevice SW₃ to be controlled to act as a diode. In response to adetermined preset amount of the energy stored or charged in thecapacitor C_(out) being transmitted to the inductor L_(RX), theswitching controller 235 initiates the energy release operation. Thus,as shown in FIG. 14C, the energy of the inductor L_(RX) is transmittedto the capacitor C_(high) through the third switch device SW₃ and thediode D_(high).

During the energy release operation, the switching controller 235controls the switch devices SW₁ through SW₆ to perform an energytransfer operation as well. As shown in FIG. 14D, the switchingcontroller 235 additionally turns on the fifth switch device SW₅,whereby the energy stored in the battery 237 is transmitted and storedin the capacitor C_(out) in response to the energy of the inductorL_(RX) being transmitted to the capacitor C_(high) through the thirdswitch device SW₃ and the diode D_(high).

Until a voltage v_(high) corresponding to the energy stored in thecapacitor C_(high) is determined to correspond to (or reach) apredetermined or preset high voltage, the energy transfer operation, theenergy build-up operation, and the energy release operation may beiteratively performed.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation of apower converter, such as the power converter 233 of FIG. 4, and FIG. 16is a graph illustrating an example of a relationship among energiesgenerated and transmitted based on operations of the power converter ofFIG. 15.

For ease of description of FIG. 15, an example exists where the powerconverter selectively operates in a normal operation mode, with aresonant voltage generated in the capacitor C_(RX) using wireless powerbeing rectified and stored in the capacitor C_(out) in a form of DCvoltage. For example, with the example of FIG. 4, the switch devices SW₁through SW₄ would be acting as diodes.

Referring to FIGS. 15 and 16, in operation 1510, the power converterenters a high-voltage build-up operation mode under control of aswitching controller, e.g., the power converter changes to thehigh-voltage build-up operation mode from the normal operation modeunder control of the switching controller 235 of FIG. 4. The powerconverter operates in the high-voltage build-up operation mode until avoltage v_(high) generated in a capacitor C_(high) is determined tocorrespond to a predetermined high voltage.

In operation 1520, the switching controller compares a voltage v_(out)of a capacitor C_(out), such as the capacitor C_(out) of FIG. 4, to afirst threshold V_(TH1).

In response to the voltage v_(out) being less than the first thresholdV_(TH1), a switch arrangement circuit, such as the switch arrangementcircuit 233-1 of FIG. 4, performs a rectification operation, inoperation 1530. For example, with the example of FIG. 4, the switchdevices SW₁ through SW₄ may be controlled to continuously act as diodes.

In response to the voltage v_(out) being greater than or equal to thefirst threshold V_(TH1), the switch arrangement circuit performs anenergy build-up operation, in operation 1540. In this example, the firstswitch device SW₁ and the fourth switch device SW₄ are turned on, andthe second switch device SW₂ is turned off. Further, the third switchdevice SW₃ is maintained to act as a diode.

During the energy build-up operation, the switching controller comparesthe voltage v_(out) of the capacitor C_(out) to a second thresholdV_(TH2), in operation 1550.

In response to the voltage v_(out) being greater than the secondthreshold V_(TH2), the switch arrangement circuit continues to performthe energy build-up operation, in operation 1540. Thus, until thevoltage v_(out) is less than or equal to the second threshold V_(TH2),energy stored in the capacitor C_(out) is transmitted to an inductorL_(RX).

In response to the voltage v_(wt) being less than or equal to the secondthreshold V_(TH2), the switch arrangement circuit performs an energyrelease operation, in operation 1560. In this example, the first switchdevice SW₁ is turned off, and the fourth switch device SW₄ acts as adiode. Further, the second switch device SW₂ is maintained to be turnedoff, and the third switch device SW₃ is maintained to act as a diode.For example, the energy release operation may be performed for apredetermined (and/or alternatively desired) period of time. The periodof time may be set to be a predetermined sufficient period of time totransmit the entire amount of energy of the inductor L_(RX) to thecapacitor C_(high).

In operation 1570, the switching controller compares the voltagev_(high) of the capacitor Cho to a target value V_(target).

In response to the voltage v_(high) being less than the target valueV_(target), the switch arrangement circuit performs the rectificationoperation, in operation 1580. In this example, the first switch deviceSW₁ and the second switch device SW₂ act as diodes. Further, the thirdswitch device SW₃ and the fourth switch device SW₄ are maintained to actas diodes.

Until the voltage v_(high) reaches the target value V_(target),operations 1520 through 1580 are repeated.

In response to the voltage v_(high) being greater than or equal to thetarget value V_(target), the power converter enters a normal operationmode, in operation 1590. In this example, the voltage v_(high) generatedin the high-voltage build-up operation mode is output as a secondvoltage HV.

For ease of description, only the operation of the power converter ofFIG. 4 is described above with reference to FIGS. 15 and 16. However,the respective power converters shown in FIGS. 7, 9, 11, and 13 mayoperate in the same (or similar) manner as described above with FIGS. 15and 16, noting that embodiments are not limited thereto.

The wireless power system 10, wireless power transmission devices 100,controller 110, power transmitter 130, communicator 150, wireless powerreception device 200, controller 210, power receiver 230, resonator 231,power converter 233, switch arrangement circuit 233-1, boosting circuit233-3, switching controller 235, communicator 250, SW, SW₁, SW₂, SW₃,SW₄, SW₅, and SW₆, respectively illustrated in FIGS. 1-3A, 4-5B, and7-14D that perform the operations described in this application areimplemented by hardware components. Examples of hardware components thatmay be used to perform the operations described in this applicationwhere appropriate include controllers, sensors, generators, drivers,memories, comparators, arithmetic logic units, adders, subtractors,multipliers, dividers, integrators, and any other electronic componentsconfigured to perform the operations described in this application. Inother examples, one or more of the hardware components that perform theoperations described in this application are implemented by computinghardware, for example, by one or more processors or computers. Aprocessor or computer may be implemented by one or more processingelements, such as an array of logic gates, a controller and anarithmetic logic unit, a digital signal processor, a microcomputer, aprogrammable logic controller, a field-programmable gate array, aprogrammable logic array, a microprocessor, or any other device orcombination of devices that is configured to respond to and executeinstructions in a defined manner to achieve a desired result. In oneexample, a processor or computer includes, or is connected to, one ormore memories storing instructions or software that are executed by theprocessor or computer. Hardware components implemented by a processor orcomputer may execute instructions or software, such as an operatingsystem (OS) and one or more software applications that run on the OS, toperform the operations described in this application. The hardwarecomponents may also access, manipulate, process, create, and store datain response to execution of the instructions or software. Forsimplicity, the singular term “processor” or “computer” may be used inthe description of the examples described in this application, but inother examples multiple processors or computers may be used, or aprocessor or computer may include multiple processing elements, ormultiple types of processing elements, or both. For example, a singlehardware component or two or more hardware components may be implementedby a single processor, or two or more processors, or a processor and acontroller. One or more hardware components may be implemented by one ormore processors, or a processor and a controller, and one or more otherhardware components may be implemented by one or more other processors,or another processor and another controller. One or more processors, ora processor and a controller, may implement a single hardware component,or two or more hardware components. A hardware component may have anyone or more of different processing configurations, examples of whichinclude a single processor, independent processors, parallel processors,single-instruction single-data (SISD) multiprocessing,single-instruction multiple-data (SIMD) multiprocessing,multiple-instruction single-data (MISD) multiprocessing, andmultiple-instruction multiple-data (MIMD) multiprocessing.

The methods illustrated in FIGS. 1-16 that perform the operationsdescribed in this application are performed by computing hardware, forexample, by one or more processors or computers, implemented asdescribed above executing instructions or software to perform theoperations described in this application that are performed by themethods. For example, a single operation or two or more operations maybe performed by a single processor, or two or more processors, or aprocessor and a controller. One or more operations may be performed byone or more processors, or a processor and a controller, and one or moreother operations may be performed by one or more other processors, oranother processor and another controller. One or more processors, or aprocessor and a controller, may perform a single operation, or two ormore operations.

Instructions or software to control computing hardware, for example, oneor more processors or computers, to implement the hardware componentsand perform the methods as described above may be written as computerprograms, code segments, instructions or any combination thereof, forindividually or collectively instructing or configuring the one or moreprocessors or computers to operate as a machine or special-purposecomputer to perform the operations that are performed by the hardwarecomponents and the methods as described above. In one example, theinstructions or software include machine code that is directly executedby the one or more processors or computers, such as machine codeproduced by a compiler. In another example, the instructions or softwareincludes higher-level code that is executed by the one or moreprocessors or computer using an interpreter. The instructions orsoftware may be written using any programming language based on theblock diagrams and the flow charts illustrated in the drawings and thecorresponding descriptions in the specification, which disclosealgorithms for performing the operations that are performed by thehardware components and the methods as described above.

The instructions or software to control computing hardware, for example,one or more processors or computers, to implement the hardwarecomponents and perform the methods as described above, and anyassociated data, data files, and data structures, may be recorded,stored, or fixed in or on one or more non-transitory computer-readablestorage media. Examples of a non-transitory computer-readable storagemedium include read-only memory (ROM), random-access memory (RAM), flashmemory, CD-ROMs, CD-Rs, CD+Rs, CD-RWs, CD+RWs, DVD-ROMs, DVD-Rs, DVD+Rs,DVD-RWs, DVD+RWs, DVD-RAMs, BD-ROMs, BD-Rs, BD-R LTHs, BD-REs, magnetictapes, floppy disks, magneto-optical data storage devices, optical datastorage devices, hard disks, solid-state disks, and any other devicethat is configured to store the instructions or software and anyassociated data, data files, and data structures in a non-transitorymanner and provide the instructions or software and any associated data,data files, and data structures to one or more processors or computersso that the one or more processors or computers can execute theinstructions. In one example, the instructions or software and anyassociated data, data files, and data structures are distributed overnetwork-coupled computer systems so that the instructions and softwareand any associated data, data files, and data structures are stored,accessed, and executed in a distributed fashion by the one or moreprocessors or computers.

As a non-exhaustive example only and further to the above, a powerreception device as described herein may be a mobile device, such as acellular phone, a smart phone, a wearable smart device (such as a ring,a watch, a pair of glasses, a bracelet, an ankle bracelet, a belt, anecklace, an earring, a headband, a helmet, or a device embedded inclothing), a portable personal computer (PC) (such as a laptop, anotebook, a subnotebook, a netbook, or an ultra-mobile PC (UMPC), atablet PC (tablet), a phablet, a personal digital assistant (PDA), adigital camera, a portable game console, an MP3 player, aportable/personal multimedia player (PMP), a handheld e-book, a globalpositioning system (GPS) navigation device, or a sensor, or a stationarydevice, such as a desktop PC, a high-definition television (HDTV), a DVDplayer, a Blu-ray player, a set-top box, or a home appliance, or anyother mobile or stationary device configured to perform wireless ornetwork communication. In one example, a wearable device is a devicethat is designed to be mountable directly on the body of the user, suchas a pair of glasses or a bracelet. In another example, a wearabledevice is any device that is mounted on the body of the user using anattaching device, such as a smart phone or a tablet attached to the armof a user using an armband, or hung around the neck of the user using alanyard.

While this disclosure includes specific examples, it will be apparentafter an understanding of the disclosure of this application thatvarious changes in form and details may be made in these exampleswithout departing from the spirit and scope of the claims and theirequivalents. The examples described herein are to be considered in adescriptive sense only, and not for purposes of limitation. Descriptionsof features or aspects in each example are to be considered as beingapplicable to similar features or aspects in other examples. Suitableresults may be achieved if the described techniques are performed in adifferent order, and/or if components in a described system,architecture, device, or circuit are combined in a different manner,and/or replaced or supplemented by other components or theirequivalents. Therefore, the scope of the disclosure is defined not bythe detailed description, but by the claims and their equivalents, andall variations within the scope of the claims and their equivalents areto be construed as being included in the disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A wireless power device comprising: a boostingcircuit configured to generate a high voltage; a switch arrangementcircuit configured to selectively transmit energy to the boostingcircuit, for the generating of the high voltage, using an inductorincluded in a resonator and in response to a build-up request for thehigh voltage; and a storage device configured to store a resonantvoltage generated by a resonance of the resonator.
 2. The wireless powerdevice of claim 1, wherein the switch arrangement circuit is configuredto iteratively transmit the energy for the generating of the highvoltage to the boosting circuit until a voltage stored in the boostingcircuit reaches the high voltage.
 3. The wireless power device of claim1, wherein the boosting circuit comprises: a diode configured totransmit energy transmitted from the switch arrangement circuit; and acapacitor configured to store the transmitted energy by the diode. 4.The wireless power device of claim 1, wherein the storage devicecomprises a first capacitor configured to store the resonant voltage,and wherein the energy selectively transmitted to the boosting circuitincludes at least one of energy corresponding to the resonant voltagestored in the first capacitor or energy charged in a battery.
 5. Thewireless power device of claim 4, wherein the storage device comprises asecond capacitor configured to store the energy charged in the battery,and wherein the switch arrangement circuit is configured to transmit theenergy charged in the battery to the boosting circuit using the inductorand to transmit, to the boosting circuit, energy stored by at least oneof the first capacitor or the second capacitor.
 6. The wireless powerdevice of claim 1, further comprising the resonator configured toresonate to generate a resonant voltage in response to receipt ofwireless power by the inductor, and configured to build energy, in theinductor, provided by the switch arrangement circuit during the use ofthe inductor for the selective transmitting of energy to the boostingcircuit.
 7. A voltage generating method of a wireless power receiver,the method comprising: storing a resonant voltage generated by aresonance of the resonator entering a high-voltage build-up operationmode in response to a build-up request for outputting a high voltage forpower supply to the wireless power receiver; and generating the highvoltage from a low voltage by storing energy in a boosting circuit ofthe wireless power receiver, using a wireless power receiving inductorincluded in a resonator of the wireless power receiver during thehigh-voltage build-up operation mode.
 8. The voltage generating methodof claim 7, wherein the generating of the high voltage comprisesiteratively transmitting the stored energy to an energy storage, until avoltage stored in the energy storage reaches the high voltage, togenerate the high voltage.
 9. The voltage generating method of claim 7,wherein the generating the high voltage includes providing, to thewireless power receiving inductor, at least one of energy correspondingto the resonant voltage generated by the resonator or energy charged ina battery.
 10. The voltage generating method of claim 9, wherein thegenerating of the high voltage comprises transmitting the stored energy,including the energy charged in the battery, in the wireless powerreceiving inductor to an energy storage, and transmitting, to the energystorage, energy stored in at least one of a first capacitor configuredto store the resonant voltage or the second capacitor configured tostore the energy charged in the battery.
 11. The voltage generatingmethod of claim 7, further comprising: generating the build-up requestin response to a determination that the high voltage is required by thewireless power receiver.
 12. The voltage generating method of claim 7,wherein the generating of the high voltage is performed during wirelesspower transmission of energy to the wireless power receiving inductorfrom a wireless power transmitter, and wherein the stored energy fromthe wireless power receiver is previously stored energy provided by thewireless power receiving inductor during the wireless powertransmission.
 13. The voltage generating method of claim 12, wherein thepreviously stored energy is energy available to the wireless powerreceiver, as a power supply to the wireless power receiver, for a lowvoltage operation.